Legion commander dies at 66

Philip Williams, a longtime resident of Merrick and commander of American Legion Post 1282, was mourned by hundreds of his family members, friends and fellow veterans during a funeral Mass at Curé of Ars Roman Catholic Church in Merrick on Monday.

Williams died last week after a four-week battle with cancer. He was 66.

Williams, who worked his way up from a job as a clerk at Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis to vice president at UBS, served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era. His wife of 43 years, Sharon, said her husband "was a doer. People rallied around him."

He served aboard the USS Nantahala, a tanker ship, in the Mediterranean from 1961 to 1964, with ports of call in France, Italy, Israel and Africa. He was an electrician's mate, third class.

Upon his return to civilian life, Williams worked as an electrician for Con Edison for five years before joining Paine, Webber. At the time, the Williamses, who were married in 1967, were living in Brooklyn, where they spent 11 years before moving to Merrick.

After retiring from UBS in 2002, Williams enjoyed babysitting his grandchildren twice a week and taking long walks with his wife at the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve and at Jones Beach.

His fellow veterans at Merrick Post 1282 said he will be sorely missed. As a three-term post commander, he contributed much to the organization's success, they said. Tom Riordan, a former post and county commander, said Williams "was very active ... He was instrumental in getting the auxiliary unit started again. He was instrumental in starting Friday Movie Nights," at which mostly World War II-era films were screened at the post on Merrick Road. Williams also served as chairman of the Merricks' 2009 Memorial Day parade, volunteered at the Merrick Fall Festival and attended several Boy Scout Eagle Courts of Honor to represent the American Legion.

Said Riordan, "He basically stimulated the membership to take on leadership positions" in the post.

“He was a very successful commander,” said Vince Gabriele, another former post commander. “He got a lot of people involved. He was good at what he was doing. We regret losing him. He went too soon.”

And Jim Anatra, the post's second vice commander, said, "He was a wonderful guy. I can only speak well of this man. He was articulate, bright. He was a very giving person. If he had an idea, he was willing to share it with everybody."

In addition to his wife, Williams is survived by a son, Kevin; a daughter, Deborah; a daughter-in-law, Jennifer; a son-in-law, Steven; and six grandchildren, Sean, Madison, Connor, Jacqueline, Andrew and Gregory.

Williams was buried at Calverton National Cemetery, with the Kearns Funeral Home in East Meadow handling the arrangements.